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U.S.News & World Report ranks Newark Beth Israel
Medical Center among the nation’s top 50 hospitals
for specialty care in Heart and Heart Surgery. |
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The first two percutaneous ventricular assist devices
(VADs) implanted at the Saint Barnabas Heart Center
at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (NBIMC)
illustrate two different clinical applications of the
Impella device.
Approved by the FDA last year, the Impella is the
only mechanical circulatory assist device that can be
placed minimally invasively through a catheter-based
procedure. Up to 2.5 liters of blood per minute are
delivered by the pump from the left ventricle into the
ascending aorta, providing the heart with active
support in critical situations.
The first case was an emergent placement of the
device by David Baran, MD, Director of Heart Failure
and Transplant Research, in a 60-year-old-male
patient who was transferred to NBIMC following a
massive heart attack. “His coronary arteries had
opened spontaneously but there was tremendous
damage to the heart muscle,” explained Dr. Baran. “The big advantage with this device is that it can be
placed quickly in the Cath Lab and removed at the
bedside,” he added.
Within days, the scheduled implantation of a second
Impella was led by Marc Cohen, MD, Chief of the
Division of Cardiology, and interventional cardiologist
Madhu Salvaji, DO. The device was implanted to
provide cardiac support during a high-risk angioplasty.
“The patient had considerable myocardial ischemia
resulting from prior heart attacks and two complete
coronary blockages. Her ejection fraction was 15
percent,” said Dr. Cohen. “Because her blood pressure
was stronger and heart function showed improvement
right away, we were able to remove the Impella
immediately following the procedure.”
For more information about the comprehensive VAD program
at the Saint Barnabas Heart Center at Newark Beth Israel
Medical Center, please call 1.888.8.HEART.1 or
1.888.843.2781.
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